Flooring Installation

Before Installation Checklist

When you make the choice of laying a new hardwood floor you need a tradesman or professional floor layer to examine your sub floor and determine what the new floor should be layed over.

Concrete Slab– The moisture content needs to be below 5.5% or the in slab RH below 85% and the level needs to be no more than 3mm variance over a 1.5m area using a straight edge. We recommend that slabs be sealed with an apoxy vapour barrier to prevent the timber from absorbing the moisture.

Installation over battens- We recommend that slabs be sealed with a polythene film (roll this out and finish it up the walls about 8cm) or paint on an apoxy vapour barrier to prevent the timber from absorbing the moisture. After the hardwood batten is fixed over a moisture barrier the flooring is then glued and hand nailed through the top of the board to the battens.

Plywood- Plywood remains the best substrate. Plywood is strong enough to provide the solid base you need, but will expand and contract along with the hardwood flooring, making it less likely that gaps will develop. Plywood also holds nails and flooring staples better than just about any other material. Whether it is 12mm or 15mm ply it needs to be staggered, flat, clean & dry with 6mm gaps in between & 10mm gaps to the walls.

Over existing floors-Ensure that the existing subfloor is dry. Do not install timber flooring over wet or damp surfaces. Screw or nail down any loose spots or places that squeak. Sand and level any high joints. The subfloor must be clean and sound; remove any dirt or debris that may create an uneven surface. Sweep and vacuum to remove all dust.

Before you install check for the following:

That the timber has been transported without damage and hasn’t got wet. (The plastic cover is a dust cover only and not waterproof protection).

Check for problems with boards before laying, if problems are found please contact our company now and no later.

Check that the subfloor is dry, is sound, is flat & is suitable for adhesive bonding.

Ensure that wet trades (such as painters and plasterers) have completed before you start laying floors.

According to the DPI of NSW (forestry) and ATFA acclimatisation of floorboards prior to fitting is only recommended when there is a difference between the moisture content of the floorboards and the average moisture content expected in the building after occupation of that building.

After Installation prior to sanding

Allow at least 72 hours after fixing before sanding your floor.

Prior to specifying any sealant for a timber used as flooring or wall panelling, advice should be sought as to its ability to allow free movement of timbers that are intended to be dry jointed. Some finishes such as polyurethanes can cause edge bonding, this is caused when a sealant which gets between the dry joints and effectively bonds the boards together does not allow the free movement and the result is often a clumping of boards with irregular, larger, more noticeable gaps between every fifth or sixth board. In some instances the gluing effect is stronger than the timbers ability to hold itself together and the board may split.